Malham-Arncliffe ( Cool Pasture )
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD965675 | — | Favourable | 5.63 | 2012-06-20 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| lapwing | Breeding |
Description
Description Malham Arncliffe Cool Pasture is located close to Kilnsey in Wharfedale and adjoins and runs with a larger pasture that lies within the Malham Arncliffe SSSI. These pastures support nationally important areas of calcareous or limestone grassland and the major part of Cool Pasture is of an unimproved, species rich form. The grassland is characterised by sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris and wild thyme Thymus praecox. The sward is rich in grass and sedge species including quaking grass Briza media, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, spring sedge Carex caryophyllea, carnation sedge Carex panicea and glaucous sedge Carex flacca. Herbs include tormentil Potentilla erecta, common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, fairy flax Linum catharticum, bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, eyebright Euphrasia spp. and the nationally scarce limestone bedstraw Galium sterneri. The tiny fern, moonwort Botrychium lunaria occurs in varying abundance from year to year. A small area of grassland within the site has been impoverished by the past agricultural management. Lapwing use the land during the breeding season. Other Information 1. This site lies adjacent to Malham Arncliffe SSSI. 2. This is a new site.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| moonwort | Botrychium lunaria | VU | fern | ophioglossaceae |
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| limestone bedstraw | Galium sterneri | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| autumn gentian | Gentianella amarella | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| fairy flax | Linum catharticum | LC | herb | linaceae |
| birdsfoot trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | LC | herb | fabaceae |
| common milkwort | Polygala vulgaris | VU | herb | polygalaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| salad burnet | Poterium sanguisorba | VU | herb | rosaceae |
| creeping thyme | Thymus praecox | Not listed in GB list | herb | lamiaceae |
| spring-sedge | Carex caryophyllea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
| glaucus sedge | Carex flacca | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| carnation sedge | Carex panicea | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Least minor Photedes captiuncula |
Endangered | Carex flacca |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus, Poterium sanguisorba |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Festuca ovina |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta, Poterium sanguisorba |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina, Galium spp. |
| Silver-spotted skipper Hesperia comma |
Near Threatened | Festuca ovina |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Agrostis spp. |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Carex flacca, Festuca ovina |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.